Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui got funding from Pakistan to run ‘biggest conversion syndicate’
Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, a renowned Islamic scholar who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for allegedly running the biggest conversion syndicate, is said to have a network bigger than that of Umar Gautam, police said on Thursday. The officials also said that the cleric was also getting money from Pakistan for illegal conversions.
Siddiqui, who is suspected of converting lakhs, had an agenda of ‘love jihad’ and increasing the Muslim population in the world.
ATS is on the lookout for five of his associates, who are currently absconding. Reports suggest that they may be hiding in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Delhi.
During the interrogation of the ATS, Maulana Kalim also said that after the arrest of Umar Gautam, he was also afraid of being arrested. He confessed to changing his mobile number twice to avoid being caught by the ATS.
UP ATS arrested Kaleem late on Tuesday night while returning from an event from Meerut. Throughout the night, the ATS interrogated Maulana and three of his associates.
Maulana Siddiqui is a resident of Phulut in Muzaffarnagar. Apart from Phulat, madrasas are run in his name in many places. Maulana’s popularity can be gauged from the fact that he gets invitations from the country and abroad to attend this program.
Siddiqui had also participated in the Rashtra Pratham and Nation Paramount event organized by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Mumbai earlier this month. ADG Law and Order Prashant Kumar said on Thursday that he had received information about Maulana’s involvement in illegal conversion.
Islamic scholar Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui was under strict surveillance of the security agency for suspicious activities.
Read also | UP ATS has arrested Maulana Kalim Siddiqui in connection with the conversion syndicate
.